"SHARPSPEED" (SHARPSPEED)
10/02/2014 at 13:39 • Filed to: None
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"SHARPSPEED" (SHARPSPEED)
10/02/2014 at 13:39 • Filed to: None | 9
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Hey look! It's a snowy Ford Raptor in Zevenaar, the Netherlands! A truck associated with off-road hooning, bent frame controversies, a general disposition of not giving a flying fuck and wait a second Netherlands?
A Ford Raptor in the Netherlands?
Now here's the thing. A personal thing to me. Jalopnik is an American site. Headquaters in Manhattan, even, one of the most American cities you can think of. But here on Jalopnik, we love all cars (most of the time). Including those we can't have, like those quirky little French hot hatches that are never sold here. Or even some badass Bavarian wagon from some 20 or 30 years ago. Just loose examples off the stuff you'll see here. And I like seeing it, don't get me wrong. It's always neat to learn a Citroen C8 RS SuperMulsanne Rammawagon L'Anus Serré Edition is running around in the states and seeing everyone lose their shit at the thought of it. But here's the thing with me: I want the other side of the story. The story of big, obnoxious hunks of American iron rolling around in Europe, and their fans over the pond. Or in Asia, or Africa, or whatever people from other continents are joining us here on Oppo.
My curiosity with American cars in other lands and the people who love them started not at all long ago. In fact, alot of you should remember it and the person responsible for it might be reading. Mind you my memory of the article isn't 100%, but nonetheless you'll get the idea and probably know what I'm talking about. It was about a German citizen trying to ship over an original Dodge Viper over to the land where the likes of AMGs and 911s reign supreme. He was spoiled for choice in his own home and yet he wanted what was basically a middle finger with a massive truck engine. He went through the details; who helped him ship it over, how the interior got rained out while waiting in California (I believe) because a window was open, it arriving in Germany, how he repainted it from it's original green to blue with white stripes (the only combo any self respecting viper should be seen in, mind you) and so on. The enthusiasm you could feel this guy had for the Viper while you read was what made it such a good article in my mind. Then in the comments he went on about how it wasn't his only American car he owns. Again, don't remember the details, but it was something along the lines of a big 50s Cadillac of sorts. The idea of seeing those big fins on the Berlin streets was something else. Another small example from a long time ago was a British man who owned a Dodge Ram. He basically stated that the gas wasn't good, it was too big for the English roads, overall an impractical chose and yet he loved his big truck like a red-blooded American....wondering if I just insulted that guy now.
Another reason I like these kinds of stories is because it's a big change from how I usually perceive Europeans and other places views on American Autos. I'm speaking of the likes of Top Gear and snooty armchair "enthusiasts" and the outright bias views they have, pretty much sticks American cars (and others) in a box probably labeled "bullshit" and labeling European, Japanese, whatever they're sided with as the be all end all. I don't like having this view. To me, it doesn't make me any better than them because I'm sorta doing the same thing they are...taking things and sticking them in a box. So I wanna see more. I want a broader, more positive view.
So all those out there reading who are not under Uncle Sam's wing, lemme ask you for your stories. Stories of American cars you love, see, and/or own in your country. Or hell, maybe not just American. Maybe cars that just flat out seem like they wouldn't be there. Like that Raptor in Zenevaar.
Photo credit to !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
> SHARPSPEED
10/02/2014 at 13:54 |
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For some strange reason people here in The Netherlands are crazy for american cars.
The bigger the better. They are getting rarer because of the change in oldtimer (26 years) law wich excluded the LPG and diesel cars from a tax break.
I think because it is the ultimate middle-finger to our tiny country and its restricting way of paying roadtax (based on weight..) to drive the biggest, useless gas-guzzling car on our roads.
Chevy vans, Cadillac Escalade, Dodge Ram and Toyota Tundra are definately the favourites.
Bwahahahaha
> SHARPSPEED
10/02/2014 at 14:09 |
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I used to live in Japan and the only new American cars I saw regularly were Mustangs, Corvettes, Hummers, Escalades, etc. Essentially only cars that scream "USA! USA! USA!" Other than that I saw a fair number of classic Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros, Chargers, Challengers, etc.
I also happen to be in Stockholm at the moment, and just today saw a lifted F-150 and a 90s Camaro...
djmt1
> SHARPSPEED
10/02/2014 at 14:13 |
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These are the American cars I've managed to get a snap of in London during 2014.
That yellow blur was a Viper.
A really big Caddy.
A Delorean.
A C4 Vette at Uni.
C6 Vette (one of three in my neighbourhood).
So next time someone says that British people hate American cars, show them this.
If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
> SHARPSPEED
10/02/2014 at 14:22 |
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I'm curious to see the flip side too. If we here in America acknowledge that our own cars are largely crap, what do people from other countries say?
MasterMario - Keeper of the V8s
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/02/2014 at 14:31 |
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i don't know if that view is really all the applicable any more. yea during the last few decades american vehicles were largely crap, but i think most people would say that american cars built in the last 5-10 years are actually quite good and getting better
Smultron
> SHARPSPEED
10/02/2014 at 14:37 |
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I remember being overtaken by a Raptor on a small mountain road in Austria's Innsbruck area. Kind of special indeed.
But overall, the image of american cars in general ain't very good here in Europe. The last us volume cars to be sold here officially were the Chrysler 300/Sebring and for sure the Jeeps which have a special position due to its hyperamericanistic appeal, as the Mustang and the Camaro/Corvette or even the occasional Hummer or Escalade. But the volume cars brought over here were not suiting the tastes at all. that was specifically becaucse of the too smooth ride, fuel consumption and, also very important, the not realy existing dealers everywhere.
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Smultron
> Smultron
10/02/2014 at 14:39 |
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Oh, and the quality...
theburnerformerlyknowasthestigfarmer
> SHARPSPEED
10/02/2014 at 14:46 |
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Down the road from me there's the smallest little quaint English village you can imagine and someone living there's got a Daytona Ram, a bit of juxtaposition lol.
The older 5th-gen Mustangs are fairly common, mostly convertibles. Handful of Shelbys too
T5Killer
> SHARPSPEED
10/02/2014 at 14:50 |
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Everytime I hear this subject come up I think of this.
American Car club in Iran.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/14/aut…
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Pabuuu, JDM car enthusiast & Italian parts hoarder
> If only EssExTee could be so grossly incandescent
10/02/2014 at 16:36 |
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People from the Netherlands still consider them as executive cars, as really luxurious and slow cars. Can't mention American car here without talking and joking about fuel consumption.
Axial
> djmt1
10/02/2014 at 22:26 |
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Blue Corvette is a C5.